Compare towns
Clinton vs Freeport vs Webster vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Freeport has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Clinton | Freeport | Webster | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563 |
8,802 |
17,748Highest |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 49% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #246 of 282 in MA | #4 of 133 in ME | #271 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | RSU 05 | Webster | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Freeport High School | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.2 |
11.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.